Matthew 9:36

Matthew 9:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
• New International Version (NIV)When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Context of Matthew 9:36

34But the Pharisees said, ‘This man can send bad spirits out of people because Satan gives him authority. Satan is the one who rules the bad spirits.’ 35Jesus went to visit all the towns and villages near there. He taught the people in the Jewish meeting places. He told them the good news about God's kingdom. He also caused sick people to become well again from all their different pains and illnesses. When Jesus saw the crowds of people, he felt sorry for them. They had trouble in their minds. They had nobody to help them. Jesus thought, ‘These people are like sheep that have nobody to take care of them.’ 37Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Many people are ready to believe God's message. They are like crops in the fields at harvest time. But there are very few workers to bring in the crops. 38So pray to God to send out workers. The field and the crops belong to him.’

Matthew 9:36 word by word

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν ὅτι ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐρριμμένοι ὡσεὶ πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• when he sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the multitudesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the multitudesὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• he was moved with compassionσπλαγχνίζωsplagchnizomai · to pityG4697
• onπερίperi · aboutG4012
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• theyεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• faintedἐκλύωekluō · to faintG1590
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• scattered abroadῥίπτωrhiptō̄ · to throw/lay downG4496
• asὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
• havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• noμήmē · notG3361
• shepherdποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166

Cross-references for Matthew 9:36

• Matthew 14:14Jesus got out of the boat. He saw a large crowd there on the shore. He felt sorry for them. There were sick people among them and he made them well again.
• Matthew 15:32Then Jesus told his disciples to come to him. ‘I feel sorry for this crowd,’ he said to them. ‘They have been here with me now for three days. They do not have any food. I do not want to send them away while they are hungry. They might fall down during their journey because they are weak.’
• Mark 6:34Jesus got out of the boat and he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them. He thought to himself, ‘These people are like sheep that have nobody to take care of them.’ So he began to teach them many things.
• Hebrews 4:15Jesus, our great priest understands us. He knows how weak we are. He knows that we sometimes want to do wrong things. The Devil tried to make him do all those same kinds of wrong things. But Jesus never did anything wrong.
• Hebrews 5:2That priest himself may often do wrong things, because he is weak and human. As a result, he understands other people who make mistakes. He can be kind to people who do wrong things.
• Matthew 10:6Instead, you must go to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep with nobody to take care of them.
• Matthew 15:24Jesus replied to his disciples, ‘God has sent me to help only the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have lost their way.’
• Numbers 27:17He will lead them when they go out to fight, and he will bring them back safely. Then the Lord's people will not be like sheep who have no shepherd.’
• 1 Kings 22:17Then Micaiah said, ‘I saw the whole army of Israel and they were walking about on the hills without any leader. They were like sheep with no shepherd as their guide. The Lord told me, “These people have no master. They should go home quietly and they should not fight.” ’
• 2 Chronicles 18:16Then Micaiah said, ‘I saw the whole army of Israel and they were walking about on the hills without any leader. They were like sheep with no shepherd as their guide. The Lord told me, “These people have no master. They should go home quietly and they should not fight.” ’
• Isaiah 56:9‘Come here, you wild animals! Come, you wild animals that live in the forest! Come and eat my people!
• Jeremiah 50:6My people have been like sheep that are lost. Their leaders should have taken care of them like shepherds. Instead, they have let my people become lost, like sheep that have gone into the mountains. They go from one hill to another hill, and they have forgotten where their home is.
• Ezekiel 34:3You drink their milk and you use their wool to make clothes for yourselves. You kill the best animals to eat. But you do not take care of the sheep!
• Zechariah 10:2People ask idols for help, but the idols do not speak true words. Some people explain what a dream means. But they do not speak true words. The help that they give is not good. So the people move from place to place like sheep. They are not safe. They have no leaders.
• Zechariah 11:16I have chosen a man to watch the sheep. He will not help the sheep that are dying. He will not look for the sheep that have gone away. He will not help the sick sheep or feed the strong sheep. He will eat the meat of the fat sheep. He will tear off their feet to get all the meat.
• Zechariah 13:7‘Attack my shepherd with a sharp knife. Attack the man that is next to me,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Kill the shepherd and then the sheep will run away. Then I will attack the young sheep.

Commentaries on Matthew 9:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Moved with compassion - , from , a bowel. The Jews esteemed the bowels to be the seat of sympathy and the tender passions, and so applied the organ to the sense. signifies, says Mintert, "to be moved with pity from the very inmost bowels. It is an emphatic word, signifying a vehement affection of commiseration, by which the bowels and especially the heart is moved." Both this verb and the noun seem to be derived from , to draw; the whole intestinal canal…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36But when he saw the multitudes - That followed him from place to place. When he saw their anxiety to be instructed and saved. He was moved with compassion on them - He pitied them. Because they fainted - The word used here refers to the weariness and fatigue which results from labor and being burdened. He saw the people burdened with the rites of religion and the doctrines of the Pharisees; sinking down under their ignorance and the weight of their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-38Verses 35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, Zec 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36Like sheep without a shepherd: Jesus grieved the failure of the Pharisees to guide the people with care (see Matthew 12:11–12; 18:12). Their constant attacks against him showed their hard-hearted rejection of God. Because of this neglect and mistreatment, the crowds suffered greatly (10:5–6; 15:12–14; 23:4; Zechariah 11:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3636. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted--This reading, however, has hardly any authority at all. The true reading doubtless is, "were harassed." and were scattered abroad--rather, "lying about," "abandoned," or "neglected." as sheep, having no shepherd--their pitiable condition as wearied under bodily fatigue, a vast disorganized mass, being but a faint picture of their wretchedness as the victims of…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:36

• Jesus, the Christ
• Sheep

In the dictionaries

• Scattered Abroad
• Bridechamber
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest
• Hem
• Issue

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings